Thrashing cylinder



Nov. 26, 1929. R. c. AYERS 1,736,775

THRASHING CYLINDER I Filed March 26, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Bay 0. Aye/a9IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1929. R C. AYERS ,7 ,7

THRASHING CYLINDER Filed March 26, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 jg llAgyelfiINVENTOR A TTORNE Y Nov. 26, 1929.

R. c. AYERS THRASHING cYLiNDER Filed March 26, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 My(1 Again;

INVENTQR ATTbRNEY Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNETED STATES PATENT oFFicE RAYC, AYERS, OF LOCKNEY, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OLE ONE-HALF TO JOE COLLINS, OFFORT WORTH, TEXAS THRASHING CYLINDER Application filed March 26, 1928.

This invention relates to thrashing machines especially adapted forthrashing all varieties of sorghum grain, such as millo maize, Kafircorn and the like, and the invention has particular reference to amachine of the character specified arranged to co-operate with otherunits of a complete thrashing and grain handling plant and in which, theprincipal object is to provide an economical, efficient and thoroughlycapable machine for thrashing maize heads especially, which haveheretofore been difficult to handle in thrashing.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a thrashingunit as specified, which, in order to add to its thoroughness inseparating the grain from the straw, is provided with means for causingthe maize heads to pass through the machine a number of times, each timesubjecting the commodity to a different thrashing process.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of meansfor effecting speedy removalof all refuse from the machine as fast as itaccumulates therein, together with means for carrying ofi dust andsimilar small substance, thus maintaining comparatively clean conditionof the machine and insuring more efficient operation.

l/Vith the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention 'has especialreference to its salient features of construction and assembly of partsby which said objects are attained and which will become manifest as thedescription proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 represents a side elevational View of athrashing unit constructed according to the present invention, withportions broken away to better illustrate its assembly of parts.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the primary thrashing cylinder.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the secondary thrashing cylinder.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on lines l4: of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on lines 55 of Figure 1.

With reference now in detail to the invention as illustrated in thedrawings, its con- Serial No. 264,593.

struction purpose and mode of operation, it may be first mentioned thatthe thrashing unit as embodied herein, while it may be employed in manyways, it is especially adapted to be used in connection with otherelements designed for the purpose of handling sorghum grains, especiallymillo maize. These mentioned elements, among which are a series ofconveyor belts, agitators, reels and cleaners, are arranged to conveythe head in its natural state completely through the plant to the finalstage or thrashed state, thoroughly separating the grain from the hay,the invention performing this latter step prior to the final cleaning ofthe grain.

The improved thrashing unit is comprised of the housing 1 preferablyformed as shown in Figures 4: and 5 and of the comparative length as inFigure 1. Near the top of the housing, and to one side is situated acylinder 2 hereinafter referred to as the primary thrashing cylinder andwhich is comprised of a length of pipe 3, having flights 4: welded orotherwise aifiXed thereto in the spiral manner shown. This pipe issurrounded by a cage 5, comprised of metal bars longitudinally arrangedwithin the housing in parallel relationship and reinforced by annularrings 6, equi-distantly spaced along the length of the cage.

Slightly below and adjacent the opposite. side of the housing 1 issituated what will be referred to herein as the secondary thrashingcylinder 7. With the exception of its being circumferentially smaller,the cylinder 7 is precisely the same in construction as the cyl:, inder2, but it will be observed that the flights 4; thereon are reversed withrespect to those carried by the primary thrashing cylinder 2. This maybe clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3. In view of the similarity betweenthe two cylinders 2 and 7, the same characters of reference are used toindicate the parts of the latter cylinder as are used to designatecorresponding parts in the primary cylinder 2.

The primary thrashing cylinder 2 is carried upon shaft 8 havingprotruding ends resting in bearings 9, and on one end of the shaft ismounted a pulley 10, as in Figure la Secondary thrashing cylinder ismounted upon shaft 11 operable in bearing 12 and carrying upon one end apulley l3.

Immediately below the primary thrashing cylinder 2 is situated a beater1 L receiving "he commodity from the cylinders2and7 after conveyancetherethrough to subject the same to the final action before ejection.This beat or is separated from the upper elements by an inclinedpartition 15, upon which grain and mali matter, capable of passingbetween the bars of which the cylinder cages are composed, falls, to beultimately received by conveyor 16 at the bottom of the housing, andthus conveyed to another element of the plant for cleaning. I

Itlnay be here mentioned that the heads, after passing through primarythrashing cylinder 2, are conveyed into the secondary cylinder T throughinclined chute 17, shown in ligure i, and after having traversed thelength of this latter cylinder, the commodity is delivered into thebeater 14c through chute 18, shown only in Figure 1. Grain and othersmall matter falling between the bars of the age-5 of cylinders 2 caughtupon inclined partitions 19, thence on partition 5 and into tire saidflight conveyor 16.

Referring again to the beater 14; this elementis comprised of a seriesof radially extending arms 20 aiiixed to a longitudinally extendingshaft 21, supported by end bearings 22, with intermediate re-inforcingbearings 23. The described combination is operative within a wire meshcylinder 2 Material en- :ering the mesh cylinder 2% through chute 18 isconveyor. therethrough by the rotating action of the arms 20 anddischarged at the opposite end through chute 25, shown in Figurcs 1 and5, that portion of grain and small matter capable of passing through thewalls of the mesh cylinder, falling into the hopper 28 to be received tothe conveyor 16 and disposed of. r

The grain, after having been subjected to he action of the severalthrashing elements emerges from the unit comparatively clean, however,removal of the dust and small matter escaping the fan 26, situated uponthe top of the housing 1, is accomplished in the inal cleaning processby some known type of grain cleaner. The fan 26 however, is veryeffective in dispensing with the majority of the refuse, and is drivenby a small motor 27.

Having described in detail the construction and assembly of theinvention, especial reference is made to the operation thereof, undernormal conditions in the thrashing, far example, of millo maize heads.These heads, which are very compact and consequently very difficult tohandle and thrash are conveyed into the chute 28 entering the primarythrashing cylinder at the top of the housing 1. In order to make thefeed uniform, an agitator 29 is arranged within the chute which isdriven by a large sprocket wheel 30,

as in Figure 1, having chain connection with a smaller sprocket 31,carried upon a stub shaft 32, which latter has upon its opposite end apulley 33, driven by some source of power (not shown).

The heads in the natural state thus enter the primary thrashing cylinder2, and due to the angle and spiral arrangement of the flights it uponthe pipe 3, the heads are thrown about and thrashed within the cage 5,during their progressive movementtoward the opposite end of the cage.This action obviously disentegrates the heads permitting the smallerparticles and grain to pass through the bars of the cage, and into theconveyor 16.

Having reached the opposite end of the primary cylinder 2, the materialfailing to pass between'the bars of the cage 5, enters the secondarycylinder 7 through chute 17 whereupon it receives a similar thrashingaction, but due to the reverseangle at which the flights 4tare disposedupon the pipe in the latter case, the material is conveyed in theopposite direction, to finally enter the beater casing 24: through chute18, wherein the ac-v tion upon the material by rotating arms 20 issimilar but more severe than that subjected by the two cylinders.

The material after having traversed the length of the beater 14 is nowreduced to nothlig more than straw, from which practically all of thegrain has been separated. This material or refuse is ejected through thechute 25 while the grain is conveyed to a point of disposal by means ofconveyor 16.

In carrying out the operation of the invention in connection with otherunits forming the hereinbefore mentioned plant, it has beenfoundeffective to convey the tailings from the thrashing unit to asuitable reel then return the same to the unit for rethrashin Morecomplete results are thus obtained and greater quantities of grainsalvaged.

It will be observed in Figures a and 5 that the mesh cylinder 24 isprovided with a hinged cover 34, and by raising the same, access may begained to the beater to make repairs and to removing obstructions bypossible entanglement of stalks about the shaft and arms.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerablemodification and such modification as is considered in keeping with theappended claims is also considered within the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a thrashing machine, a primary thrashing cylinder, a secondarythrashing cylinder disposed below and to one side of the primarythrashing cylinder, a chute for conducting material from one end of theprimary cylinder into the adjacent end of the secondary cylinder, abeater arranged below the primary cylinder in substantial alinementtherewith, a chute for conveying material from the opposite end of thesecondary cylinder into the adjacent end of the beater, a downwardlyinclined partition extending beneath each of the primary and secondarycylinders and over the beater, a hopper beneath the heater to receivematerial from the latter and from the partition and to also receivematerial gravitating from the second ary cylinder, an inclined partitionbelow the primary and above the secondary cylinders for directingmaterial from the primary cylinder and from the first named partitioninto the hopper and a chute leading from the 0pposite end of the beaterto conduct material from its inside out of the machine.

2. In a thrashing machine, a primary thrashing cylinder, a secondarythrashing cylinder disposed below and to one side of the primarythrashing cylinder, means to conduct material from one end of theprimary cylinder to the adjacent end of the secondary cylinder, a heaterbelow the primary cylinder, means to convey material from the oppositeend of the secondary cylinder into the adjacent end of the beater, meansbetween the two cylinders to direct material from the primary cylinderdownwardly, a receiver underlying the secondary cylinder to receivematerial therefrom, means underlying both of the cylinders to directmaterial therefrom and from said first named directing means downwardlyinto said receiver, a heater underlying said second directing means, andmeans to conduct material from the lnside of g the beater to a pointoutside of the machine.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RAY O. AYERS.

